A British cycle team will be a force to reckon with at the Tour de France, seven-time winner Lance Armstrong said today.

A British-funded Team Sky is being put together by British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford. Armstrong, in Dublin for a three-day cancer summit organised by his Livestrong foundation, described it as "a great step forward for cycling".

"A few years ago if you had said the British cycling federation is going to dominate the Olympic Games people would have said 'no way' but Dave Brailsford and his entire team there has made amazing progress," said Armstrong.

There was also praise for Bradley Wiggins, a double gold medallist in Beijing, who came fourth in the Tour de France this summer behind winner Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck and Armstrong in third.

"I was sweating Bradley Wiggins on a daily basis. This guy made my life very difficult. What a story," said Armstrong.

"Not only are they [Team Sky] going to be in the Tour de France, they are going to be a factor. It is good for cycling fans in Britain and cycling fans all over the world."

This year was Britain's most successful Tour de France with Wiggins, riding for Garmin-Slipstream, finishing fourth and six stage wins for Mark Cavendish, riding in Columbia-HTC colours.